If you’ve ever been lost down the beauty guru rabbit hole you’ve probably felt like your favorite YouTuber had something you didn’t and they did-countless hours of trial and error. Curls & Couture’s Courtney Danielle might be known for her signature twist out and awesome curl definition now but there was a time when all she had was questions and a rattail comb like the rest of us. Find out how this popular digital influencer acquired the skills to install her own protective styles, her secrets to slaying on #baecation, and what she loves about connecting with all of you below.

Where did you acquire the skills to do your own hair?  

That was trial and error. What I started to do when I was transitioning is I got curly hair and I would teach myself how to do curly hair on weave before I fully went into natural. So by the time I was fully natural I had almost a year of practice doing twist-outs, braid-outs, flexi-rods, all of that. And then anything I wanted to learn I would watch on YouTube or I would ask professionals. Whenever I go to a stylist I’m asking them questions. “What are you doing?” “Why are you doing that?” “Why is this important?” “Why are you using this technique over that technique?”

How does it makes you feel now that YouTubers are learning from you?

I think it’s cool. It makes me happy. I love when people tell me “I learned how to do a flexi-rod set because of you!” I’m like “for real?” It gives me the confidence that I’m doing something right.

How do you take care of your hair when you’re traveling?

Protective styles. That is the number one thing to do because it’s easy as long as I have a protective style I’m good.

How do you deal with TSA limits on liquids in your carryon?

Usually I end up taking a combination of travel size and full time products depending on where I’m going. When I went to Bali I took a full size conditioner but I usually take only one full size product. Whatever styling product I can get hold and moisture with I bring. If I’m doing braids, faux-locks, or crochet I take travel size products.

What are some of your favorite travel-size products? 

Girl+Hair. It’s what I travel with. That and Jane Carter they have a whole travel line. Oh and Devacurl, their super cream, It’s not travel size but it’s a small bottle and it won’t spill in your bag.

How do you use Girl+Hair?

I use it when I go away on vacation I like the ease of it. When you’re doing protective styles you have to really get in between each braid. For me, having that applicator bottle, having the ability to just get up and go and not worrying about diluting my shampoo or diluting conditioner enough so I won't get build up, things like that are important to me. It was really easy to use. I also like companies that start in the home. It’s not a big manufactured product. And I like that she has a science background. The people behind the brand are important to me too.

What made you want to work with Girl+Hair?

They reached out to me sometime last year when I had faux-locks. I liked what they stood for and the fact that they were solely dedicated to under care. There weren’t any brands that did that so that was interesting to me. I thought it was different.

Your boyfriend was featured in a video where he styled your hair. Do you guys share products? How does that work?

Girllll! In the beginning he used to take all my products. He was literally taking products as I was using them. Then I got the Jane Carter men's line and now we both love Jane Carter and I don't have to worry about him taking my stuff!

Do you think that’s a good way to bond in your relationship?

Oh my gosh yes! He loves it. He comes to me like “my curls are popping today!” I have to tell him “alright relax!” Beyond the hair he’s a videographer so he can relate to the creative aspect.

At last year’s Curlfest you wore really long cornrows what are you planning on rocking this year?

I want to do that style of like cornrows in the front with boxbraids in the back or to the side with the hair jewelry. I’m feening to do that! I love charms. I did a festival look for a video and I used them.

One last question. HOW did you create that halo braid?

Haha. I have a fake halo braid I made.

 It’s fake?!

 Yeah. I put my hair in a bun then I use chunky braiding hair and I secure it to the back of the bun and wrap it around. It takes me thirty minutes. If my hair is stretched it takes probably fifteen minutes.

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*This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  

Photo Credits: Curls & Couture

While formal events like the Academy Awards and the Met Ball bring out wig snatching couture and breathtaking ball gowns from some of our favorite stars less formal occasions provide the perfect platforms for sharing their personalities!

On-trend styles like mini dresses and metallics may have ruled the night at Sunday night’s 26th Annual MTV Movie Awards but supermodel Jourdan Dunn made a splash by choosing to combine textures. She crushed it in wide legged satin trousers and a velvet off the shoulder blouse from designer Johanna Ortiz.

But what really made the brown British bombshell stand out wasn’t her supple skin or snatched waist it was her showstopping waist-length ponytail. Recreate her look for your next big night out with our kinky bulk hair using the steps below!

1. Start out by washing and blow-drying your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo.
2. Part your hair to one side of your face. Don’t forget to place the part on your best side for selfies (and don’t you dare try and act like you haven’t figured out which one that is)!
3. Treat your hair with a leave-in conditioner and then brush it down on both sides with a bristle brush. Remember the focus is on the added hair here so make the base of your initial ponytail as neat as possible.
4. Slick your hair down with an edge control. Try Palmer’s Coconut Oil option if you don’t want one that makes your hair hard and inflexible.
5. Secure your hair with a ponytail holder.
6. Wrap the edge of ponytail with strand of kinky bulk hair.
7. Add additional bulk hair to ponytail. Secure the hair to the initial ponytail with bobby pins. Be careful not to poke yourself by jamming the pins into your head. Insert them at an angle and check to make sure they're secure. 
8. Moisten your fingers with oil or leave-in conditioner and separate hair with your hands.
9. Tease your hair to add volume with a rattail comb.
10. Top off with your favorite lightweight finishing spray!

Finish the look by adding your favorite oversized hooped earrings and a bold lip. We like The Lip Bar’s “Bawse Lady”. Try this look the next time you’re trying to spend your Saturday night styling like one of the original “ Yonce’ “ girls.

Photo Credits: Marie Claire, Malayan Mail, FashionBombDaily

The number one question we hear from customers is how to keep their scalp clean while wearing synthetic hair extensions. Unlike human hair extensions, synthetic hair can become tangeled and unruly when it gets wet. However, over the years the fiber used to create synthetic hair has gotten a lot more sophisticated and can withstand a lot more than you think. 

Unfortunately beauties, you can not wear any for of protective style for any long period of time without treating your scalp. Imagine if you did not drink any liquids for 3-5 months what would happen to you. Now imagine what your scalp is going through. 

After launching Latched + Hooked we searched for solutions on the market that would help our consumers keep their scalps cleansed, nourished and help with restoring moisture. When Girl + Hair found us--it was like a match made in heaven. 

This product line works! The cleansing shampoo is not a dry shampoo, you have to wash it out. We suggest that when washing out the cleanser that you direct the water on the scalp and not the hair itself. The hair will get damp but do not intentially try to wash the hair, but focus on getting the product out of the scalp. Of course we put it to the test before we decided to make it available to you, so check out our video below on how we use Girl + Hair to not only keep our scalp cleansed but to expand the time in which we can keep our style. 

You can now find the entire Girl + Hair product line in our shop!